The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, has signed a decree declaring a new annual non-working public holiday (Day of Loyalty and Love for the Supreme Commander Hugo Chavez and the Fatherland) to be observed on December 8 to commemorate former President Hugo Chávez.

As per the "Decreto N° 541, mediante el cual se declara el día 8 de diciembre «Día de la Lealtad y el Amor al Comandante Supremo Hugo Chávez y a la Patria»", December 8 will be added to the official list of annual non-working public holidays as set out by the LOTTT "Ley Orgánica del Trabajo, los Trabajadores y las Trabajadoras" (13-Mar-2012 and 06-Feb-2012) which came into effect earlier this year (01-May-2013).